Reclining exercise chair



July 21, 1959 H. RAGSDALE ET AL 2,895,539

RECLINING EXERCISE CHAIR Filed June 4, 1957 I s Sheets-Sheet 3 N w m m IN. N N M 6 6 M E L 1 4v. W Z w mn h 1 a :w A w :H \h bw a l 7w 5 A \.m M Ma m h ..l 0 NM. a u H M Yw R $0 M .MNJ mm +w hm TU .m Wu -M 8 v an N mw mm m x o m v v M m uh *m b N m W N m m & 3 n n Q NH m W- m Nu \m A n NM w w N IMF ova Unite States Patent 2,895,539" mictinsimd'nxiiuclsii ctiAitR" Alumni. Ragsilal and Claire Ragsdale',

Delray Beach; Fla: Applicati'ori June 4, 1957, Serial No. 663,416

6 Claims. (Cl. 155-106 The present invention relates to reclining exercise chairs-,ahd more particularly tosuch chairs which have a normal chair appearance when in upright position.

The primary object of the invention is to provide areclining exercise-chair having means associated there- With'for locking the chair in a number of adjusted positi'ons;

Another object of the invention is to provide a recli'ning exercise chair of. the class described above in which the supporting surface of the chair can be tilted sufficiently to-raise the feet to a plane above the plane of the head of the-user.

A further object of the invention is to provide a reclining, exercise chair in which means are provided for retarding the movement of the chair during the tilting action. V

A still further objectof the invention is to provide a reclining exercisechair of the class described above which is inexpensive to manufacture, simple to operate, and which will permita plurality of exercises to be performed thereon.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in. the light ofi 't he attached drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section of the invention taken: on the line 1-1 of Figure 3', looking in the direction of the arrows, with the chair in erect position.

Figure 2 isaview similar to Figure 1, with the chair shown. in reclined position.

Figure 2A is an extension of Figure 2, illustrating the head rest support.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse cross-section taken on the line 3- 301? Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse fragmentary crosssection taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 5, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a vertical fragmentary cross-section taken on the" line 5-5 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section taken on the line 66 of Figure 4', looking in the direction of the ai -rows.

Figure 7 is an" enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of the locking bar structure shown partially broken away for convenience of illustrations V Figure 9 is a. fragmentarytop plan view of the invention with the seat cushion removed.

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical crosssection taken on the line 10-10 of Figure 9, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical crosssectlo'n taken on the line 11--11 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 12 is an enlargedfragmentary horizontal crossiii 2,895,539 Patented July 21, 1959 iee section taken on the line 12-12 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference numeral 20 indicates genorally 2. reclining exercise chair constructed in accord ance with the invention,

The "chair 2th is provided with a pair of spaced paral l'el floor engaging side frame members 21' and 22, respecmaven, which are connected along their forward edges byupper and lower transverse members 23, 24-; The fianie m'embers21- 22' are connected at their lower rear edges by atransverse member 25 and centrally by a trans verse member 26. Theframe members 21 and 22 have arms 27; 28, respectively, extending from the upper edge thereof to form arms forthe chair 2-0.

A generally rectangular seat support panel 29 is afranged in substantially horizontal arrangement between the frames 21, 22 spaced above the lower ends thereof. The'seat support panel 29 is mounted on a pair of beam members 30, 31 arranged in parallel relation underheath the opposite side edges of the panel 29. The beam members 30, 31" are'journalled on the transverse member/26 so that the seat support panel 29 may be forwardly and rearwardly tiltedtabouti a horizontal axis.

generally rectangular back panel 32 is connected fo the rear edge of the seat support panel 29 by means of a. hinge structure 33.. A head rest panel 34 extends upwardly from" the back panel 32 in the same plane therewith and has a pair of bolt members 35 extending into: keepers 3% carried on the upper end of the back panel: 32".. The head rest panel 34 is removably mounted to the back. panel 32' and can' be slipped therefrom when desired.

A foot rest panel 37- has its upper edge secured to the forward edge of the seat support panel by means of a hinge structure 38 as can be best seen in Figure 2;

A cushion board 39 is positioned over the seat support panel 29 and is slidably supported thereabove on rollers 40' journalled on the seat support panel 29; Pins 41 project downwardly from the cushion panel 39 into slots 42. formed in the seat support panel 29; The pins 41 and slots 42 cooperate tolimit the fore-and-aft sliding movement of the cushion panel 39 with respect to the seat support panel 29. The seat support panel 29 is somewhat longer than cushion panel 39, forreasons to be assigned.

A pair of guide bars 43, 44 are secured to the upper end of the back panel 32. on the rear side thereof and extend downwardly and forwardly to a point lying between the frames 21, 22 and spaced slightly above the lower ends thereof.

. A track, generally indicated at 45, is provided with a generally horizontal fiat portion 46 and an upwardly curving arcuate portion 47, as best seen in Figure 2.

The rear end of the track 45 is supported on the cross joutnalled in their lower ends and engaging the track 4'5 so that the movement of the bars 43, 44 is guided by the track 45.

A. keeper bolt 52 is mounted for longitudinal sliding movement on each of the bars 43, 44 on mounting pins 53. The lower end of the keeper bolt 52 is provided with a reduced end portion 54: for engagement in: the

42 bores 50 to lock the bars 43, 44 in adjusted position along the track 45.

A knob 55 is journalled on each of the arms 27., 28, respectively, and have a link 56 extending laterally therefrom. The link 56 has a slot 57 adjacent the end opposite the knob 55 which is engaged over a pin 58 carried by the keeper bolt 52, as best seen in Figure 3.

Rotation of the knob 55 moves the links 56 and in turn moves the keeper bolts 52 so as to disengage the ends 54 thereof from the bores 50 to permit the bars 43 and 44 to be adjusted.

A link 59 is pivotally secured to the lower end of the foot rest panel 37 on each side thereof, and a second link 60 is secured to each of the frame members 21, 22 at one end and pivotally secured to the free ends of the links 59 at the other end. A third pair of links 61 have their forward ends pivotally connected to the pivot connecting the links 59 and 60 and their rear ends journalled on a transverse member 62 connecting the bars 43, 44 adjacent their lower ends.

The seat support panel 29 is provided with a pair of spaced apart depending hook members 63 adjacent the opposite sides thereof and arranged to engage the transverse member 23 to limit the rearward tilting movement of the seat support panel 29, as illustrated in Figure 2.

A pair of hydraulic control members, generally indi cated at 64, are suspended beneath the seat support panel 29 on brackets 65v secured to the underside of the seat support panel 29 adjacent the opposite side edges thereof. Each of the hydraulic members 64 include a cylindrical portion 66 having a radial flange 67 extending outwardly from one end thereof, and a second radial flange 68 extending inwardly from the opposite end thereof.

A second cylindrical member 69 having a diameter somewhat less than the diameter of the cylindrical member 66 is integrally joined to the inner edges of the radial flange 68 and extends perpendicularly therefrom oppositely from the cylinrdical member 66. An end Wall 70 is integrally formed on the end of the cylindrical member 69 opposite the flange 68 and is provided with a sealed shaft journal 71 formed integrally therewith.

A disc-shaped cover plate 72 is secured to the flange 67 by bolts 73 at spaced points thereabout. An adjustable sealing bushing 74 is formed axially on the cover plate 72 to permit a shaft 75 to extend therethrough. The opposite end of the shaft 75 is journalled in the journal bearing 71, as best seen in Figure 4.

A partition disc 76 is secured to the flange 68 by securing bolts 77 dividing the cylindrical member 66 and the cylindrical member 69 to form two compartments in the hydraulic member 64.

A boss 78 is formed on the face of the disc 76 adjacent the cover 72 and a coil spring 79 enclircling the shaft 75 has one end 80 thereof secured to the boss 78. A pin 81 is fixed to the shaft 75 within the cylindrical member 66, and the opposite end of the spring 79 is fixed thereto.

A collar 82 is fixed to the shaft 75 within the cylindrical member 69 and is provided with a pair of angularly divergent vanes 83, 84 secured thereto for movement within the cylindrical member 69. An abutment 85 is secured to the cylindrical member 69 and extends radially inwardly therefrom into engagement with the collar 82 between the vanes 83, 84. The vanes 83 and 84 each are provided with an orifice 86 to permit the flow of oil therethrough.

The cylindrical member 66 is provided with a filler neck 87 through which oil is introduced to the hydraulic member 64. The cylindrical member 66 forms a reservoir and a port 88 permits the flow of fluid between the reservoir in the cylindrical member 66 to the space Within the cylindrical member 69. The cylindrical member 69 is completely filled with oil and movement of the vanes 83, 84 relative to the abutment is retarded due to the.- oil being forced through the orifices 86 therein.

An arm 89 is fixed to each of the shafts 75 at one: end and is provided with an elongated slot 90 at its: other end engaged over the cross member 62, as can: be seen in Figures 1 and 3.

In the use and operation of the invention, the chair 20 is arranged in the position as illustrated in Figure with the back rest panel 32 virtually upright and thefoot rest panel 37 perpendicular and engaging the front. of the frames 21, 22. A cushion 91 is fixed to the foot: rest panel 37 and is provided with an undercut upper end 92 to permit the folding of the chair 20. A seat cushion 93 is secured to the panel 39 and has undercut beveled front and rear ends 94, 95, respectively. The back rest panel 32 has a cushion 96 fixed thereto with the lower end of the cushion 96 being beveled at 97, for reasons to be assigned. The head rest panel 34 has a cushion 98 fixed thereto as can be seen in Figure 2A.

To move the chair from 'the sitting position illustrated in Figure l to the reclining exercise position shown in Figure 2, the knobs 55 are turned retracting the keeper bolts 52 from the bores 50 to release the bars 43, 44 from the tracks 45. Leaning back in the chair 20 will then cause the back rest panel 32 to move toward the horizontal and the links 61 will move forwardly to bring the links 59, 60 into alignment, as viewed in Figure 2. The tilting movement of the seat support panel 29 is retarded by the hydraulic member 64 and only permitted to occur at a relatively slow rate.

' In changing the chair 20 from the reclining exercise position of Figure 2 to the upright position of Figure 1, the knob 55 is again turned, pulling the keeper bolt 52 out of the bores 50 and the weight of the user is moved toward the foot rest cushion 91 whereupon the seat will slowly move back to its upright position where it can be locked by releasing the keeper bolts 52 for engagement in a selected pair of bores 50. Obviously, the head rest panel 34 can be added to the outer end of the back rest panel 32 when such is desired.

It should be understood that the reclining exercise chair can be adjustedto any desired position between that illustrated in Figure 1 and that illustrated in Figure 2. The coil spring 79 within the hydraulic member 64 assists in returning the elements of the chair 20 to their upright position as viewed in Figure 1 upon the completion of the exercise desired on the chair 20.

It should be understood that while we have set forth a specific embodiment of the invention, modifications, both as to structure and design, may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A reclining exercise chair comprising a frame, a seat support panel, transversely extending horizontal means pivotally securing said panel to said frame, said means engaging said panel intermediate the front and rear edges thereof, a foot rest front panel having its upper edge hingedly secured to the front edge of said seat panel, a back rest panel having its lower edge hingedly secured to the rear edge of said seat support panel, a guide track secured to said frame and having a plurality of bores arranged in spaced relation therein, a back rest panel support bar having one end rigidly secured to said back rest panel and having a roller journalled on the other end supporting said bar in guided relation on said track, and hand controlled means for locking the roller carrying end of said bar inv adjusted position on said track.

2. A reclining exercise chair as defined in claim 1 wherein means are provided on said seat support panel for retarding the pivotal movement of said seat support panel with respect to said frame.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a head rest panel is detachably secured to the upper end of said back panel in aligned relation therewith.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said foot rest panel is actuated by links connected to said bar.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said guide 5 track is provided with a relatively straight portion sloping upwardly and forwardly and an arcuate portion integrally formed thereon in an upwardly and forwardly extending direction.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein means are 10 provided on said seat panel engaging means on said frame for limiting the rearward tilting movement of said seat panel with respect to said frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 628,700 Dann July 11, 1899 741,121 Fisher Oct. 13, 1903 934,285 Clark Sept. 14, 1909 

